Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan
stated the city wishes to see more UK business activities at a workshop
in London on September 4 to promote investment to the locality.
The event was part of the activities to mark the 40 th anniversary of
the Vietnam-UK diplomatic ties and 100 years since President Ho Chi
Minh arrived in the UK on his way to fight for national salvation.
Quan noted that with a population of nearly 10 million, HCM City is
now a major economic, cultural, education-training, and
scientific-technological hub in the southern region. The city has so far
established trade ties with 228 countries and territories worldwide and
drawn 95 UK’s projects worth 628 million USD.
Participants
were briefed on the city’s business incentives. Besides the Thu Thiem
urban area project, they were also called on to pour capital in high
added-value services, industry, agriculture and urban development.
Marcel Steward, UK’s Wunder Energy Director of Environment and
Sustainability, said Vietnam’s current position in the region and the
world is conducive to trade and investment expansion.
Michael
Lawrence, Asia House Executive Director, said the workshop created a
chance for participants to seek networking and business opportunity.
Chairman Quan vowed to take into account recommendations put forth at the event for refining FDI policies.
As UK is strong in finance, banking and services and pioneers the
public-private partnership model, HCM City will work more closely with
London and Canary Wharf financial districts to learn from their
experience, Quan said, adding that he is hopeful of new potential and
chances.
Co-hosted by the Asia House, the UK-ASEAN Business
Council and the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the event drew
the participation of over 70 businesses.-VNA